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Hidden Dangers Uncovered

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Lesson Plan

Understanding Addiction Pathways

By the end of this 50-minute one-on-one session, the student will explain how vaping hijacks brain reward pathways, identify personal stress triggers, and complete a stress-to-coping map to build healthier coping strategies.

At-risk 9th graders benefit from personalized guidance on addiction science to make informed choices about vaping and practice concrete coping skills when stressed.

Audience

9th Grade Student

Time

50 minutes

Approach

Interactive one-on-one guided activities

Materials

Understanding Addiction Pathways, Brain on Vapes Slide Deck, One-on-One Coaching Dialogue Script, Stress-to-Coping Map Activity, and My Trigger Tracker Journal

Prep

Teacher Preparation

10 minutes

Step 1

Session Opening & Objectives

5 minutes

  • Greet the student and establish confidentiality and respect
  • Share session goals: learn how vaping affects the brain, identify triggers, and develop coping strategies
  • Brief ice-breaker question: “What have you heard about vaping?”

Step 2

Explore Addiction Pathways

10 minutes

  • Using Understanding Addiction Pathways:
    • Explain how nicotine activates reward circuits
    • Discuss tolerance and dependence development
  • Ask student to paraphrase how substances change brain chemistry

Step 3

Brain on Vapes Overview

10 minutes

  • Present key slides from the Brain on Vapes Slide Deck
  • Highlight immediate and long-term brain effects of vaping
  • Invite questions and clarify misconceptions

Step 4

Interactive Discussion & Triggers

10 minutes

  • Follow prompts in the One-on-One Coaching Dialogue Script
  • Ask student about personal stressors and moments they’ve felt tempted to vape
  • Reflect back: validate emotions and experiences

Step 5

Mini Assessment

5 minutes

  • Quick verbal quiz:
    • “How does nicotine hijack your brain?”
    • “What’s one long-term effect of vaping?”
  • Provide corrective feedback and reinforcement

Step 6

Stress-to-Coping Map Activity

5 minutes

Step 7

Introduce Trigger Tracker Journal

3 minutes

  • Show the My Trigger Tracker Journal
  • Explain how daily journaling of mood and cravings can build self-awareness
  • Encourage commitment to use it over the next week

Step 8

Wrap-Up & Next Steps

2 minutes

  • Summarize key takeaways: brain impact, personal triggers, coping options
  • Agree on one immediate action (e.g., try one coping strategy today)
  • Schedule a follow-up check-in to review the journal entries
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Slide Deck

Brain on Vapes

Understanding how vaping impacts your brain immediately and long-term

Welcome student. Introduce the purpose: explore how vaping affects the brain now and over time. Encourage questions throughout.

What’s Inside a Vape?

• Nicotine: highly addictive chemical
• Flavorings: often contain harmful compounds
• Propylene glycol & vegetable glycerin: create the vapor
• Heavy metals: from heating coils

Explain the primary ingredients in e-liquid. Point out that nicotine is the main addictive compound.

Nicotine & the Brain’s Reward Pathway

  1. Nicotine enters lungs → bloodstream → brain
  2. Stimulates dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens
  3. Causes a “reward” feeling that reinforces vaping
  4. Repeated use strengthens this pathway

Use a simplified diagram to show the reward pathway. Ask student to identify what gives a feeling of “pleasure.”

Immediate Effects of Vaping

• Dopamine surge → brief mood boost
• Increased heart rate and blood pressure
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Irritated throat, coughing

Discuss each immediate effect. Check if student has experienced any of these when around vaping.

Long-Term Brain Changes

• Tolerance: need more nicotine for same effect
• Dependence: withdrawal symptoms when not vaping
• Impaired attention, memory, and learning
• Heightened stress response

Highlight how repeated exposure rewires the brain. Emphasize that changes can affect school performance.

Why Teen Brains Are Especially Vulnerable

• Prefrontal cortex still developing (decision-making)
• Stronger reward response → higher risk of addiction
• Lasting changes more likely when vaping starts young

Discuss adolescent brain development. Encourage student to reflect on risk-taking behaviors.

Protecting Your Brain

• Set vape-free goals and track progress
• Use healthy stress relievers: exercise, hobbies
• Reach out to trusted adults or friends for support
• Use your Trigger Tracker Journal daily

Transition to coping strategies. Prepare student to apply these ideas in daily life.

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Script

One-on-One Coaching Dialogue

Time: 10 minutes

Teacher: “Thanks for talking about how vaping affects your brain. Now I’d like to learn more about you. Can you tell me about a time recently when you felt stressed or upset and noticed yourself thinking about vaping?”


Teacher (if needed): “What was happening around you in that moment? Who were you with?”


Teacher: “I’m hearing that when you feel [student’s feeling], vaping seems like a quick way to cope. Is that right?”


Teacher: “Let’s identify two main triggers—situations or emotions that make you want to vape.”

• “What’s the first trigger you notice?”



• “What’s the second trigger?”


Teacher: “Great. For our first trigger, [trigger one], let’s brainstorm healthy alternatives. What’s one thing you could do instead of vaping when this happens?”


Teacher (follow-up): “How might that help you feel better in the moment?”


Teacher: “Now for the second trigger, [trigger two]. What’s another healthy option you could try?”


Teacher (follow-up): “What steps would you take to remember this strategy when you need it?”


Teacher: “You’ve generated some solid ideas: [student’s strategies]. On a scale from 1 to 5, how confident are you that you’ll try one of these next time?”


Teacher (if below a 4): “What could make you feel more confident about using that strategy?”


Teacher: “Awesome. Let’s pick one strategy to commit to today. Exactly when and where will you use it, and how will you remind yourself?”


Teacher: “I’m proud of your plan. Be sure to record how it goes in your My Trigger Tracker Journal. We’ll review it together at our next check-in—does that sound good?”


End of Dialogue

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Activity

Stress-to-Coping Map Activity

Instructions: Identify two key stressors (triggers) you face. For each, list two healthy coping strategies you could use instead of vaping. Then reflect on how those strategies might help you manage stress.

Stressor 1: What situation or feeling makes you want to vape?


Healthy Coping Strategy A: What’s one thing you could do instead?


Healthy Coping Strategy B: What’s another option you could try?


Reflection: How do you think these strategies will help you in the moment?





Stressor 2: What’s another trigger you notice?


Healthy Coping Strategy A: What’s one thing you could do instead?


Healthy Coping Strategy B: What’s another option you could try?


Reflection: How might these strategies support you when you feel this way?





Next Steps:

  • Circle the strategy you feel most confident to try first.
  • Decide when and where you’ll use it (e.g., “After class when I feel anxious, I will…”).


  • Commit to recording how it goes in your My Trigger Tracker Journal this week.
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Journal

My Trigger Tracker Journal

Use this log daily to notice your mood, cravings, and how coping strategies work for you. Fill out one entry each day and review your progress weekly.

Entry for Date: ______


Time: ______


Mood (1 = low, 5 = high): ______


Craving Level (1 = none, 5 = intense): ______


Trigger (What happened or how were you feeling?):





Coping Strategy Used:





Strategy Effectiveness (1 = not at all, 5 = very effective): ______


Reflection (How did this help or what might you try next time?):










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Hidden Dangers Uncovered • Lenny Learning